Device with electrical or pneumatic actuation of a folding mechanism for encouragement of reduction of vehicle speed

ABSTRACT

The device with electrical or pneumatic actuation of a folding mechanism for encouragement of reduction of vehicle speed consists of bars with accelerometers that function as step-on sensors, which transmit information to a controller that immediately determines the speed of the movement of a vehicle, after which it sends an order to an actuator with electric motor or a pneumatic actuator with an aim of raising the folding speed reduction mechanism in the case when the vehicle moves at a speed that is higher than the one programmed into the controller and after a certain period of time to return the device to its standby position, or to leave it in the standby position, i.e. not to raise the folding speed reduction mechanism. if the vehicle is moving at a speed that is lower than the one programmed in the controller.

TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH INVENTION RELATES

The invention “Device with electrical or pneumatic actuation of a folding mechanism for encouragement of reduction of vehicle speed” refers to the class “Construction”, in the field of “Devices that are built in the roadway” and in the section “Embedding sensors on the roadway or other road surfaces”. According to the International Patent Classification (IPC). the invention belongs to the class E01F11/00. Also. the invention refers to the subsection “Devices for preventing or limiting traffic”, corresponding to the class E01F13/00.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

This invention refers to the performance of a so-called “intelligent speed bump”, where the speed of the vehicle is determined by the step-on sensors, after which the actuator of the folding mechanism for slowing the vehicles is activated, by raising the lower folding bar that, at the same time raises the upper folding bar, forming an angular placement that provides maximum toughness and robustness when being hit by the wheels from the passing vehicles moving at a speed that is higher than the one programmed into the controller. After a certain period of time, the device returns back to its original, standby position.

STATE OF THE ART

In general, the so-called “speed bumps” are often built on the roadway itself or are placed at the top of the road, to regulate the speed of the vehicles passing over them. These devices are generally low enough to allow the vehicle to cross over them safely, but also high enough to force the vehicle to slow down as it goes over it, because otherwise they would cause a significant inconvenience to the vehicle. The speed bumps differ in length, but usually during their construction and implementation it is typical to leave space (curbs and grooves) between the impact part and one end of the closed road to allow for drainage. In many cases, spaces on both sides of the speed bump allow for passing of priority vehicles, although the effectiveness will depend on the type of the vehicle and the design of the road. Dynamic speed bumps differ from the conventional ones by being activated only when the vehicle is moving over a certain speed. Vehicles moving below the given speed will not experience discomfort when crossing over the “speed bump”. The dynamic speed bumps also may allow the passage of emergency vehicles at higher speeds. For example, the Actibump system, used in Sweden, is based on electrically powered equipment integrated into the road surface, that functions as a platform that drops a few centimeters when approached by a fast vehicle. Any vehicle approaching at or below the speed limit will pass at the level of the road. In this case, the system measures the speed of vehicles using a radar rather than through step-on sensors, which is a significant difference from the technical solution of the existing invention. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/102,868 reveal the road obstacle device that is fixed on the street and serves to control the speed of the vehicles, but it does not possess a speed detector, and has a folding mechanism for obstruction to the vehicles quite different from the one of present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION O FTHE TECHNICAL SOLUTION

In order to better understand the description of the technical solution of the invention “Device with electrical or pneumatic actuation of a folding mechanism for encouragement of reduction of vehicle speed”, the following 12 figures are used, showing the characteristic views, cross-sections and details of the invention:

FIG. 1—Spatial outline of the layout of the segments that make up the invention (double folding mechanisms for reduction of the speed),

FIG. 2—Cross section of a step on sensor,

FIG. 3—View from the bottom side of the supporting structure,

FIG. 4—Bearings for shafts placed on the short supporting profiles,

FIG. 5—Side view of the mechanism for slowing the vehicles with the bars in the low position (standby),

FIG. 6—Mechanism for slowing the vehicles with the bars in the low position, side view with visible cross section (enlarged insert),

FIG. 7—A view from the top of the supporting structure with folding bars in expanded open position,

FIG. 8—View from the bottom side of the supporting structure,

FIG. 9—Mechanism for slowing the vehicles with the folding bars in raised position, to slow the vehicles, side view (insert),

FIG. 10—A mechanism for raising the bars with electric motor as actuator (horizontal lateral section),

FIG. 11—A mechanism for raising the bars with pneumatic actuator (horizontal lateral section),

FIG. 12—One implementation of the invention.

According to FIG. 1, the device with electrical or pneumatic actuation of a folding mechanism for encouragement of reduction of vehicle speed consists of bars that function as step-on sensors (1.1; 1.2; and 1.3), each equipped with an accelerometer sensor (1.4). The step-on sensors are parallel to one another, and the distance between them is predefined. They are placed in front of the folding mechanism for slowing the vehicles (11) and are also parallel to it. The step-on sensor on FIG. 2 is composed of a housing (1.5) that includes a metal bar in a T-profile shape (1,6), which, with its base (1.7), lays over an embedded rubber base (1.11), while the vertical part of the metal bar (1.8) partially exits from the metal housing (1.5) and is secured laterally with a front upper rubber (1.9) and a rear upper rubber (1.10) below which channels (1.12) are optionally left free. The noted connection wires (2.1, 2.2 and 2.3) placed in the channel shown on FIG. 1 connect the accelerometer sensors (1.4) to the controller (4) placed in the housing (3), that on its upper part is optionally equipped with a photovoltaic panel (5) while from the bottom (6) it is connected to the mains. The activation of the folding locking mechanisms (11) is performed with the controller (4) through the cables (7). The folding mechanism (11) (FIG. 3) consists of a supporting structure (11.1) composed of short supporting profiles (13). Two bearings (13.1 and 13.2) between which a distancer (13.3) is attached, are placed on the upper surface of the short supporting profiles (FIG. 4). The bearings are for the shafts (14.1 and 14.2) respectively. The bearings (13.1 and 13.2) are fixed in place by means of laterally fixed stopping elements (13.4) on both sides, and on the back side, they are supported by the long profiles (12). Rectangular anchors (13.5) and (13.6) are optionally placed between the bearings (13.1 and 13.2) and the distancer (13.3) on the upper surface of the short supporting profile (13). The long profiles (12) (FIG. 5) are welded at the ends of the short supporting profiles (13), thus creating a solid and compact supporting structure (11.1). The shaft (14.1) of the lower folding bar (15) and the shaft (14.2) of the upper folding bar (16) are laid down on the bearings (FIG. 5). The two shafts indicated at their ends have reduced diameter.

These shafts lie on the lower anchors (14.6 and 14.7) (FIG. 6) that are fixed at the outermost short supporting profiles (13) on both sides, to which the bearings (13,1 and 13.2) are not installed. The ends with reduced diameter of the shafts (14.1 and 14.2) are placed on the lower anchors (14.6) and (14.7), that are fixed with screws to with the upper anchorages (14.3) and (14.4). With this construction solution for securing the shafts (14.1 and 14.2), we are fixing also the lower folding bar (15) and the upper folding bar (16). It is precisely this arrangement of the bearings (13.1 and 13.2) that allows the shafts (14.1 and 14.3) to endure most force. The lower folding bar (15) and the upper folding bar (16), shown on FIG. 9 and FIG. 6, have two-part mechanisms for limiting their movement the stoppers, that consist of the moving parts (17.1 and 17.2), which with their upper ends are welded on the shafts (14.1) and (14.2), and at the lower end have fixed parts with a wide areas (17.3 and 17.4). During the lifting of the lower folding bar (15) and the upper folding bar (16), the stoppers touch the screws with a wide head (17,5) and (17.6), screwed into the supporting elements (17.8), that are welded transversely between two short supporting profiles on the short profiles themselves, shown on FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, In one implementation of the invention described on FIG. 6, the screws (17.5 and 17.6) are placed in the supporting element (17.6), and the sections with a wide areas (17.3 and 17.4) are placed in the stoppers (17.1 and 17.2) In this way, it is possible to adjust the range of movement of the lower folding bar (15) and the upper folding bar (16) during their lifting, which allows for adjusting the angle at which the upper folding bar (16) stays with its groove made on the lower surface (16.1) on the front edge side (15.1) of the lower folding bar (15), that is visible on FIG. 9. The lifting mechanism (18) (FIG. 10) of the lower folding bar uses an electric motor as actuator (18.2) that is directly connected to the controller (4) on FIG. 1. As an optional solution shown on FIG. 11 for this purpose if is used a pneumatic actuator (19,2), that is controlled by the controller (4) and via the compressor (8) of Fig, 1, through the air hoses (9,1) and the mechanism (19), raises the lower folding bar.

Description of the Embodiment of the Present Invention

FIG. 12 presents one implementation of the invention “Device with electrical or pneumatic actuation of a folding mechanism for encouragement of reduction of vehicle speed”, for which a patent claim is made, that is consisting of bars (1.1, 1,2 and 1.3) equipped with accelerometers (1.4) that function as step-on sensors, that transmit the information to the controller (4) which immediately determines the vehicle's speed (20), and then issues an order to the actuator with electrical motor or pneumatic actuator to raise the folding mechanism for initialization of reduction of speed (11) in the cases when the vehicle is moving at a speed that is higher than the one programmed in the controller (4), or to leave it in the lower standby position, i.e. not to raise the folding speed reduction mechanism if the vehicle is moving at a speed lower than the one programmed in the controller (4). The folding mechanism (11) is mounted on top of a base (10), which is mounted in the roadway (22) and is mounted on a supporting structure (11.1) with bearings for the shafts, on which stoppers are welded, wherein the actuators that have options to be with an electric motor or with a pneumatic actuator, activate the lifting mechanism that raises the tower folding bar (15), which at the same time raises the upper folding, bar (16) to the height determined by the stoppers (17.1 and 17.2), where the front side edge of the lower folding bar (15) enters in the groove made on the lower surface of the upper folding bar (16), forming an angular positioning which allows the force of the impact of the wheels over the upper bar of the mechanism to be transmitted at the optimum angle on the bottom bar allowing for maximum toughness and durability to the force of the wheels of the vehicles moving with speed that is higher than the one programmed into the controller. After a certain period of time, the device returns to its original, standby position. 

1. The device with electrical or pneumatic actuation of a folding mechanism for encouragement of reduction of vehicle speed, is characteristic in that it consists of bars (L1 1.2, 1.3) with accelerometers (1.4) that function as step-on sensors, which transmit information to the controller (4), that immediately determines the speed of the vehicle (20), after which it sends an order to the actuator with electric motor or pneumatic actuator to raise the folding mechanism (11) in case that the vehicle moves with a speed that is larger than the one programmed into the controller, or to leave it in the standby position, that is, not to raise the folding speed reduction mechanism if the vehicle is moving, at a speed that is lower than the one programmed in the controller, whereby the folding mechanism (11) is placed on a base (10) which is mounted in the roadway (22) and is mounted on a supporting structure (1.1) with shaft bearings on which stoppers are welded, wherein actuators with a variant solution with an electric motor or a pneumatic actuator, activate the lifting mechanism that raises the lower folding bar (15) which during its lifting, simultaneously raises the upper folding bar (16) up to the height determined by the stoppers (17.1 and 17.2), wherein optionally, the front side edge of the lower folding bar (15) enters in a groove placed on the lower surface of the upper bar (16) forming an angular placement that allows the impact force of the wheels over the upper bar to be transmitted at the optimum angle on the bottom bar, allowing for maximum toughness and durability when being hit by the wheels of the vehicles that move at a speed that is higher than the one programmed in the controller, and after a period of time the device returns to its original standby position.
 2. The device according to claim 1 is characteristic in the fact hat the bars (1.1; 1.2; and 1.3) equipped with accelerometers (1 .4) acting like step-on sensor e parallel to one another, have a predetermined distance between therm and are arranged in front of the folded locking mechanism (11) and are parallel to it.
 3. The device according to the aforementioned claim 1 is characteristic in that the bar that is step-on sensor is composed of a housing (1.5) in which a metal bar in a T-profile shape (1.6) is fitted, which with its base (1.7), lays over an embedded rubber base (1.11) while the vertical part of the metal bar (1.8) partially exits from the metal housing (1.5) and is secured laterally with a front upper rubber (1.9) and a rear upper rubber (1.10) under which channels (1.12) are optionally located.
 4. The device according to the above claim 1, is characteristic in that the step-on sensors (1.4) are connected by wires (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) with the controller (4) that is placed in a housing (3) on whose upper part has installed a photovoltaic panel (5), and in the lower part has a plug (6) for connection to the grid, whereby, by means of the controller (4) through the cables (7) the overlapping locking mechanisms (1.1) are activated by an actuator.
 5. The device according to the aforementioned claim 1, is characteristic in that the folding mechanism (11) made of a support structure (11.1) composed of short supporting profiles (13) on whose upper surface are placed two bearings (13.1 and 13.2) for the shafts (14.1 and 14.2) respectively, between which is placed a distancer (13.3), where the bearings (13.1 and 13.2) are secured by means of laterally fastened securing elements (13.4) on both sides, while with the rear vertical sides they are fixed by the long profiles (12).
 6. The device according to claim 5, is characteristic in that between the bearings (13.1 and 13.2) and the distancer (13.3) on the upper surface of the short supporting profile (13) rectangular hardeners (13.5) and (13.6) are optionally placed, while on the ends (13.7) and (13.8) of the short supporting profiles (13) long profiles are welded (12), thus creating a solid and compact supporting structure (1.1).
 7. The device according to claim 6, is characteristic in that the mentioned shaft (14.1) of the lower folding bar (15) and the shaft (14.2) of the upper folding bar (16) lie on the bearings (13.1 and 13.2), where the two mentioned shafts on their ends have a reduced diameter and lie on the lower anchors (14.6 and 14.7) which are fixed on the outermost short profiles (13) on which the bearings (13.1 and 13.2) are not mounted, while on the ends with a reduced diameter of the shafts (14.1 and 14.2), the upper anchorages (14.3) and (14.4) are mounted, which makes the fixing of the lower folding bar (15) and also of the upper folding bar (16).
 8. The device according to claim 7, is characteristic in that the lower folding bar (15) and the upper folding bar (16) have a two-part stopping mechanisms for limiting their movement—the stoppers, consisting of the movable stoppers (17.1 and 17.2) that with their upper ends are welded to the shafts (14.1) and (14.2), and at their lower end they have embedded sections with a wide areas (17.3 and 17.4) that, during the lifting of the lower folding bar (15) and the upper folding bar (16) touch the screws with a wide head (17.5) and (17.6) screwed into the supporting elements (17.8), that are welded transversely between two short supporting profiles, on the profiles themselves.
 9. The device according to claim 1, is characteristic in that the lifting mechanism (8) of the lower folding bar as an actuator uses an, electric motor (18.2) directly connected to the controller (4) and as an optional solution for the same purpose it uses a pneumatic actuator (19.2), wherein the controller (4), if necessary, with the compressor (8) through the air hoses (9.1) and the mechanism (19), raises the lower folding bar. 